Few current issues are as emotionally charged as those surrounding sex offenders, laws in place against them and legislation about identification and registration of known sex offenders. Sex crimes cause an immense amount of trauma, confusion and pain. We all want to keep our children and indeed, our whole family, safe from these predators. But there’s still a great deal of controversy about the most effective ways to apprehend sex offenders and keep them from committing further crimes. Let’s take a look at the facts about sex crimes and the people who commit them, as well as the resources available to keep ourselves and our families safe.

Who is a sex offender?Simply put, a sex offender is a person who has committed a sex crime. Although laws about what constitutes a sex crime differ among jurisdictions, they generally include behaviors like: indecent exposure, voyeurism (“peeping Toms”), rape, molestation, child pornography, statutory rape, and solicitation of prostitution.

Why do people commit sex crimes?Although this question can never be definitively answered, there are myriad opinions about the causes of sexually criminal behavior, with fervent, vocal adherents on all sides of the issue. One theory is that abuse in childhood (particularly sexual abuse) can make a person more likely to commit sex crimes later in life. It has also been postulated that pedophilia and other forms of sexual predation are forms of sexual addiction. Rape in particular is generally understood to be more about power than it is about sex. Psychiatric professionals and law enforcement agents alike often see rape as a primarily violent crime acted out in a sexual way.

What are some common misconceptions about sex offenders?One common misconception is that sex offenders are always male. This simply isn’t true. While sex offenses perpetrated by women don’t take the same forms (in general) as those committed by men, women are still capable of committing sex crimes. While the vast majority of sex crime convicts are indeed men, the female component cannot be ignored. Women who commit sex crimes often do so in the context of child care centers or schools. Several cases of female teachers having affairs with adolescent male students have brought national attention to this phenomenon.

Another misconception is that sex offenders are easy to identify based on appearance. Again, simply not true. Sex offenders are not always shifty-eyed, trench coat-wearing rejects. They can be friendly, successful, charismatic people. This is why it’s so important to teach your children how to trust their instincts and stay safe, no matter how well they think they know someone.

Does incarceration and sex offender treatment actually work?The jury’s still out on this one as well. A United States Department of Justice study in Arizonareported a 5.5 percent rate of recidivism among convicted sex offenders after their release from prison. Sex offender statistics like these are helpful to a degree, but these numbers only reflect the re-offenders who were actually caught.

In terms of psychological therapy, there are many approaches for sex criminals who want to get help. Consult the American Psychological Association at APA.org, or the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers at ATSA.com, for more information.

What about Megan’s Law?Megan’s Law is a federal law that was passed in 1996, named after Megan Kanka. In 1994, this New Jerseyseven-year-old was brutally raped and murdered by a convicted sex offender who had moved in across the street from her family. Megan’s Law requires that individual states make information about convicted sex offenders available to the public (on a free, searchable Internet sex offender registry, for example), although the states are free to decide exactly how they will publicize that information.

Familywatchdog.us is an excellent resource if you want to find sex offender laws in your state. You’ll also find registered sex offender searches by name and area. Mapsexoffenders.com is an easy-to-use site that shows the exact locations of sex offenders in communities across the country. It also supplies news, emergency alerts and helpful articles about safety and law enforcement.

What if I am (or someone I know is) victimized by a sexual predator?Seek medical attention immediately so that DNA and other forensic evidence can be gathered. Psychological assistance is also vital for the victims of sex crimes. The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 1.800.656.HOPE for free, confidential assistance.

How do I keep my children safe?Child and adult DNA kits are easy to purchase and use, and although no one wants to think they’ll ever have to use them, it’s better to be safe than sorry. By having a DNA record already on hand, you can quickly provide useful evidence to law enforcement agencies should someone you love be abducted or victimized. The more prepared you are, the better the chances of recovering an abducted victim and convicting a guilty offender.

The same principles apply when it comes to having a clear, current photo of your children and other family members on hand. An up-close head shot of school picture quality, with all identifying characteristics and special information written legibly on the back, can assist the media and law enforcement agencies. Learn how to report your child missing so that, should the unthinkable happen, you have a proper protocol to follow. Time is of the essence when a predator strikes, so do everything you can to prevent scrambling. Chances are that you won’t ever have to use this information, but remember that every family victimized by such a predator would warn that, “No one ever thinks such a thing could happen to them.”

The Internet is a sexual predator’s playground, so keep a close eye on what your children are doing when they use the computer. Pedophiles have been known to make contact with children on the Internet by posing as children, themselves.

They establish a relationship before ever meeting in person and, after gaining the child’s trust online, feel more confident in luring that child to meet in real life. There are many security programs and devices designed to restrict kids’ access to sites with dangerous or questionable content. Safekids.com and its sister site Safeteens.com provide helpful information and resources for keeping kids and teens safe on the Web.

Teach your children about staying safe. As early as possible, teach them their full names, the full names of parents and caregivers, phone numbers, addresses, and any important medical information. Make a game out of learning this vital information. Cell phones designed for kids (such as Firefly Mobile and Disney Mobile) can enable children to call you or call 911 in an emergency. Kids should also always carry change to make emergency calls; also make sure they know that they can call 911 for free from any pay phone.

Another important thing to teach children is how to identify safe people in public places, should they become lost. When you go to a store or mall, for example, practice picking out people who would be safer than others to ask for help: a mother with her own kids, a store clerk, a uniformed security guard or police officer. Teach your children about the ploys that predators often use, such as asking for help finding something they dropped (a watch or a wallet, perhaps), or asking for directions.

Kids should know never to approach a stranger’s car or home, even if the stranger is addressing them directly. Many children, having been taught to be polite and to always speak when spoken to, will engage in conversation even when they are apprehensive because they fear being rude. Tell your kids that their safety and security are more important than manners.

Children should also understand the difference between a “good touch” and a “bad touch.” Educate them about their bodies, taking care to use the correct terminology without slang or euphemisms. Teach them that parts of their bodies are private and should never be touched. Help them to understand that they can come to you with anything – questions, concerns, fears, and feelings. It’s important for kids to know that they can talk to you about anything at all, so encourage them always to tell you if there’s anything that makes them uncomfortable.

The existence of sex offenders is a fact of modern life. Because of the disturbing and horrific nature of the crimes they commit, and the lasting effect of these crimes on victims, the issues surrounding sex offenders are necessarily fraught with emotion and controversy. Educate yourself and your children about how to minimize the risk of being victimized by a sexual predator. It’s cliché, but it’s true: Better safe than sorry.

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